Ankara arrests a Turkish UN judge, in violation of diplomatic immunity
Sedaf Aydin Akay was detained on 21 September, for alleged links with the perpetrators of the July attempted coup. He is a member of the international tribunal on war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. The Turkish authorities have denied prison visits. His arrest caused the blockage of an appeal against a war criminal.
Istanbul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Ankara's security forces have arrested a Turkish magistrate member of the judge council of the International Criminal Court, the United Nations judicial body for war crimes and genocide. Activists and legal experts denounce the detention, which took place in September - although news has only filtered through in the last few hours - in blatant violation of diplomatic immunity owed to the judge.
In the past, Judge Aydin Akay Sedaf was part of the bench called upon to rule on war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda, so far the UN international tribunal was involved in only two cases. He was arrested for (alleged) links to the authors of the (failed) coup in Turkey last July.
According to reports from Theodor Meron, president of the United Nations tribunal, the Turkish police arrested him on 21 September "in violation of diplomatic immunity" and "judicial independence". The UN Office for Legal Affairs, Meron added, "has already asked for his release," and "the cancellation of all pending proceedings against him."
Meanwhile, the Turkish authorities denied Meron permission to visit his jailed colleague.
The arrest of Aydin Akay Sedaf is the first case worldwide of its kind, in clear violation of immunity guaranteed by the UN. Furthermore, the detention of the Turkish judge has resulted in the interruption of the appeal process for war crimes against Augustin Ngirabatware, a politician in Rwanda in 2012 sentenced in first instance to 35 years for genocide.
His arrest is part of the massive campaign of repression promoted by the Turkish authorities, which in little more than three months led to the arrest of 35 thousand people and a total of approximately 82 thousand suspects. During the hectic night of the failed coup between 15 and 16 July 270 people were killed, thousands wounded.
Since then Ankara has launched a campaign of purges against intellectuals personalities, political, military and administrative authorities considered close to the Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, in exile in the United States, who has always denied any involvement in the operations. The crackdown has also involved journalists, media close to the opposition, teachers and administrative staff. Critics say Erdogan has exploited the attempted coup to silence the opposition, marginalize parliament and establish a Presidential Republic.
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